The opening of the new facility was delayed by six months due to prolonged construction works: it was originally slated to open at the end of 2015.

In total, it took 2.5 years to build and is expected to have a useful lifespan of about 20 years.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the facility was home to “cutting edge technology and innovation”, though many of the uses of that technology were classified, preventing him from talking about them at length.

“Can I assure you this building contains some of the keenest minds, some of the most innovative minds employed by the Commonwealth of Australia,” Turnbull said.